G13 chord
G dominant thirteenth. The dominant thirteenth chord: a dominant seventh with the ninth and thirteenth added. It is rich, and jazz uses it often.
Click a note to hear it
- Notes
- G B D F A E
- Formula
- 1 3 5 ♭7 9 13
- Intervals
- P1 M3 P5 m7 M2 M6
- Also written
- Gdom13
Notes in G13
G13 is spelled G B D F A E: six notes stacked from the root G.
| Note | Interval above G | Role | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | root | 1 | |
| M3 | third | 3 | |
| P5 | fifth | 5 | |
| m7 | seventh | ♭7 | |
| M2 | ninth | 9 | |
| M6 | thirteenth | 13 |
On the piano
The root position voicing, with every chord tone lit in its own colour. Click a key to hear it.
On the guitar
There is no standard moveable shape for G13, so here are its tones on the neck. Pick the notes that suit your voicing.
What it sounds like
C13 is C, E, G, B♭, D and A: a dominant seventh with the ninth and thirteenth added. The thirteenth, A, is a major sixth above the root and sits a semitone below the minor seventh, B♭, which adds friction. The ninth, D, forms a second against the third. Together the added notes make the chord full and bright, while the major third and minor seventh keep the dominant tritone and its pull toward the tonic. The chord is rich but still directional.
How it is used
The dominant thirteenth is a dominant chord on the fifth degree, most often V13 before the tonic in jazz, and it appears in blues and jazz-influenced styles. Writers usually omit the eleventh, since it clashes with the major third. The chord resolves as C7 does, with the seventh falling by step to the third of the tonic. The thirteenth is often the top voice in a jazz voicing. Its pull toward the tonic matches that of C7, so the thirteenth changes only the colour.
How it is built
The dominant thirteenth is a root with a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh, a major ninth and a major thirteenth, 0, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 semitones above the root. Common symbols are C13 and C7(13). Writing 13 normally omits the eleventh, F, which clashes with the third. The thirteenth is the same pitch as the major sixth, A, so C13 contains C6 with the dominant seventh and ninth added. Inversions place E, G, B♭, D or A in the bass.
Which keys contain G13
G13 is not built from any one major or minor key’s own notes. It appears through borrowing, alteration or chromatic voice leading, which is part of why it sounds coloured.
Scales that fit G13
Scales that contain every note of the chord, so they can be played over it:
Other G chords
How to practise it
Voice C13 with the third, seventh, ninth and thirteenth above a C in the bass: E, B♭, D and A. Play it, then listen for the minor second between A and B♭, the thirteenth against the seventh, which gives the chord its bite. Remove the A to hear the chord become C9 without its fifth, and add it back to hear the difference.
Further reading
- Chord Extensions Explained: Ninths, Elevenths and ThirteenthsJazz & Popular Harmony · 7 min
- Jazz Chord Voicings: Shell and Rootless Voicings ExplainedJazz & Popular Harmony · 7 min
- Chord Symbols Explained: Major, Minor, Seventh and Slash ChordsHarmony · 8 min
Questions
What notes are in a G13 chord?
G13 contains G, B, D, F, A, E. That is the root, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, thirteenth of the chord.
How do you spell G dominant thirteenth?
Stack the intervals P1, M3, P5, m7, M2, M6 above G: G, B, D, F, A, E.
What other symbols mean G13?
Lead sheets also write it Gdom13. They are the same chord.
What is the difference between C9 and C13?
C9 is C, E, G, B♭ and D. C13 adds A, the thirteenth, which is the same pitch as a major sixth above the root. The added note gives C13 a fuller, brighter top without changing its dominant function. Both chords keep the third, seventh and ninth that carry the chord's identity.
Why is the eleventh left out of a thirteenth chord?
The eleventh, F, sits a semitone above the major third, E, and that clash makes the chord harsh. Writers and players usually leave it out. The chord is still written C13, because the thirteenth implies the seventh and ninth, and the eleventh is optional.
Is C13 a dominant chord?
Yes. It has the major third and minor seventh of a dominant seventh, so it keeps the tritone and its pull. The added ninth and thirteenth colour the chord without changing its function. C13 usually resolves to a tonic a fifth below, such as F, with the seventh falling to the third of that tonic.